recreational drug
noun
: a drug (such as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
Examples of recreational drug in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The days and nights are filled with drinking and recreational drug use — and all appears well until Jess gets bitten by a snake and disappears soon after.
—
Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
The drugs found in their systems included fentanyl, lidocaine and cocaine, according to the medical examiner’s report
One of the surviving victims who testified Wednesday, referred to solely by his first name, Alex, admitted to using recreational drugs on occasion, such as marijuana and cocaine.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
Despite its name, the recreational drug may not contain cocaine at all and gets its color from food coloring.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
That same year, a survey of nearly 1,500 recreational drug users at European EDM festivals found that about 20 percent had tried tusi in the last 12 months.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for recreational drug
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Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
The drugs found in their systems included fentanyl, lidocaine and cocaine, according to the medical examiner’s report
One of the surviving victims who testified Wednesday, referred to solely by his first name, Alex, admitted to using recreational drugs on occasion, such as marijuana and cocaine.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC News, 22 Jan. 2025
Despite its name, the recreational drug may not contain cocaine at all and gets its color from food coloring.
—Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 23 Oct. 2024
That same year, a survey of nearly 1,500 recreational drug users at European EDM festivals found that about 20 percent had tried tusi in the last 12 months.
—Celia Ford, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for recreational drug
Cite this Entry
“Recreational drug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recreational%20drug. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
recreational drug
noun
rec·re·a·tion·al drug
ˌrek-rē-ˈā-sh(ə-)nəl- 
: a drug (as cocaine, marijuana, or methamphetamine) used without medical justification for its psychoactive effects often in the belief that occasional use of such a substance is not habit-forming or addictive
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